Guitar Guitar
36 Trongate,
Glasgow
0141 552 9896
Only in Glasgow can you be
greeted with a wink from a street sweeper wandering the Trongate, in neon togs, brandishing a spanking-new guitar. Cast an
eye to the shiny new shop from which he's just emerged, hidden at the corner of Merchant City, and there's Guitar Guitar. Open little more than a month, the store follows hot on the heels of its sister store in Edinburgh. ''Ever since the School of Rock film came out everyone wants to be the next Jack Black,'' laughs co-owner Graham Bell. ''It seemed like a good time to specialise.''
Using his past experience of working for music retail giants Sound Control, Bell and his two partners have successfully opted for a more low-key vibe. Guitar Guitar has the feel of a sweet shop (an inordinate amount of colour and you want to try a bit of everything) and the look of a trendy contemporary museum space. Each guitar has its own pride of place, from the basic acoustic to the rare collectables on display. Even the most novice guitar hound can't fail to be enthused by the celeb namechecks littered throughout the store. With signed replicas of guitars used by Brian May, Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris, there's plenty to appreciate.
Boasting more than 700 guitars, including an assortment for left-handed musicians, Guitar Guitar is the biggest shop of its kind in Scotland. ''We wanted to offer something for everyone and we needed the space to do that. The scene is changing, allowing everyone a piece of the action. You just have to look at shows like the X Factor to see the different types of music enjoyed by all ages.''
Guitars aren't the only thing for sale here. The accessory selection is equally plentiful,
with colourful guitar straps spread along the wall. The Mesa Boogie sound system is also on offer, including a one-off snakeskin covered design. It can be yours for (pounds) 3500; hardly a bargain, but it's great to admire before opting for a more mainstream version. ''It's like the BMW of amps,'' says Bell. ''The Darkness would use something like that.''
Unlike the more intense music shop experience, the mantra here is all about chilling out. ''The place was a wreck when we first got here. We wanted to give it a makeover and a really contemporary, relaxed feel so we drafted in
J M Architects, who did Loch Lomond Shores,'' says Bell.
While downstairs is still a work in progress, plans are afoot for it to become something of a chillout zone, while also housing the more collectable pieces that are currently displayed upstairs. ''We want people to come in, relax, drink coffee and have a go with the guitars. With the recent influx of buying online, the joy of buying a guitar is sometimes lost. We give people the chance to look, touch and feel the equipment. We began this project because we love guitars, and we want people to love coming here, too.''
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